Kavanagh: Take The Game By The Scruff Of The Neck

The season is now over for Carlisle with the final league one fixture seeing them on the road.

Carlisle went to Wolverhampton Wanderers knowing that they had to beat the league one champions to have any chance of staying in league one. They couldn’t manage either as they lost 3-0.

Graham Kavanagh always knew what a tough task his side was up against when it came to playing Wolves but he felt that his side needed to take ‘the game by the scruff of the neck’ with no one doing this.

The Carlisle boss told the media after the game: ‘We have played against a very, very good Wolves team and I want to give them credit because Kenny (Jackett) has assembled a very good side with a big squad but you have to produce – and fair play he has.

‘I knew it would be a difficult game regardless of where we are in the table. But some of the decisions we made and the fear we played with – the lack of confidence and belief. There wasn’t anyone prepared to take the game by the scruff of the neck.’

First half goals from Sam Ricketts and Michael Jacobs left the Cumbrians with an uphill task with Nouha Dicko adding a third.

Kavanagh has been looking for more from his players and definitely expects more going forward with the expectancy required from them something they must start to ‘understand’.

He added: ‘The players need to understand what it means to play for the club and what is expected of them. The fans expect us to work hard and put your body on the line.

‘I think that any professional footballer should be prepared to do that. If not, they are going to find themselves on the scrapheap – as some of them may find this season.

‘They have had their opportunities and not taken them. I have said to one of two of them there, including the lads who will be with us here next season, I am expecting more and demanding more and if you are not going to give it you are not going to play.’

What do you make of Kavanagh’s post match views?

This site is looking for an editor (at least contributor), so if a fan can offer us a genuine opinion from someone that supports them we would love to share it with the masses!